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safety

If you need to use a public computer from the airport, coffee shop, or a library, you need to be very careful. If you left your footprint on the computer, you can be hit hard by cyber crooks, or anyone using the computer after you.

Many users type their user names and passwords in the computer without knowing that the computer might be recording them in files or in the computer’s memory. This happens often as most websites and operating systems save the user names and passwords in files, memory, cookies and so on by default.

Some users do not even log out of the website or instant messaging software. Browsing history is another way to sniff for openings.

Precautions for your own safety:

• Disable the auto complete option if you use Microsoft Windows. This is to prevent your user name, password, web address being remembered by the computer.
• Do not use any automatic logon service provided by the operating system, or the website.
• Keep an eye on anyone around you while typing your user name and password.
• Do not stay away from the computer with programs running.
• Log out of everything before you leave.
• Remove your footprints before you leave. In internet explorer, delete all temporary Internet files and cookies, and clear the browsing history. In other browsers, you can clear the private data.
• Try not to use any public computer for doing banking, and e-commerce. Anything to do with bank accounts, personal details, and credit card information should be avoided.
• Do not save your files in the public computer.
• Do not leave behind your USB sticks or disks.
• Do not print sensitive data and information in public.
• A keystroke logging program can be installed in the computer by a criminal to record all your key strokes in a file and sent back to the criminal via the network or Internet.
• Remember once you are on the Internet or any local area network or wireless network, there is no privacy. Everything is open.